Pretoria - South Africans have been encouraged to help the less fortunate and make a difference in someone’s life as part of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty campaign.
“The campaign calls on all South Africans to stand together and fight poverty by dedicating their time towards acts of goodwill that will ensure sustainable developmental programmes,” the National Development Agency (NDA) said.
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is dedicated towards honouring victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger.
The day, which is celebrated annually on 17 October, was set aside by the United Nations.
The NDA said people could dedicate a minimum of 17 minutes to helping others on the day.
“That could vary from collecting 17 pairs of shoes to give to achieving learners from poor communities, volunteering 17 lessons to maths and science to matric learners from poor performing schools or helping start 17 food gardens at an ante-natal clinic for pregnant women, among others.
“There are no limitations to what people can do, the acts just need to be developmental and sustainable,” NDA CEO Dr Vuyelwa Nhlapo said.
The NDA and it campaign partners would plant seedlings and trees at Thokoza Eco Cooperative, which was a female-led agricultural project that farms vegetable and nursery products.
The cooperative also produced vermin compost, broilers, waste management and aqua-culture fishery on a land provided by the Ekurhuleni municipality in the East Rand.
The NDA’s partners included the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nelson Mandela Foundation, Department of Communications (formerly Government Communication and Information System), Department of Social Development and South African Social Security Agency.
The campaign’s message was “making giving back a lifestyle” to the streets and hearts of all South Africans.
As part of the campaign, South Africans have been encouraged to wear green T-shirts on Friday.
“The green will symbolise the stand they are taking to achieving balance, harmony and growth for all people of South Africa,” the NDA said. – SAnews.gov.za
